Camarillo Sanitary District
AGENDA REPORT
Date: May 14, 2025
To: Honorable Chairman and Board of Directors
From: Greg Ramirez, District Manager
Submitted by: Dave Klotzle, Assistant District Manager
Subject: Approve CSD Agreement 2025-11 with California Boiler, Inc. and Ratify Urgency Purchase and Installation of a Rite Boiler
BACKGROUND
The boiler at the Water Reclamation Plant is used to provide heat for the anaerobic digester and maintain the biological solids treatment process. Failure of the boiler will jeopardize the treatment process and prevent the Camarillo Sanitary District (CSD) from meeting regulatory requirements.
The current Burnham boiler was installed in 2017. Under the harsh conditions at the wastewater treatment plant, a boiler lasts six to seven years on average. The Burnham boiler has exceeded its useful life expectancy and has begun experiencing substantial mechanical failures.
In the past 12 months, there have been eight repairs to the boiler, costing $32,111.
Replacement parts for the boiler are not available as the model of the boiler is no longer in production. This makes obtaining replacement parts costly and often unreliable.
Additionally, the auxiliary components outside the boiler have not been replaced in the past 20 years, making those parts obsolete.
At the end of January, California Boiler, Inc. administered an inspection and discovered substantial internal corrosion in the boiler due to the nature of the digester gas that provides fuel to the boiler and recommended replacement of the boiler. In February, the boiler required additional repairs, and CSD staff requested a quote from California Boiler, Inc. for the cost and installation of a new Rite boiler.
With an estimated lead time of 12-14 weeks and a required 25% down payment, staff initiated an urgency purchase from California Boiler Inc. for a replacement boiler in the amount of $210,585.10. After initiating the purchase, staff received an updated quote that included estimated freight charges for a total cost of $223,579.53. A boiler failure would be catastrophic to the survival of the biological solids treatment process, therefore staff
Purchase and Installation of a Rite Boiler CSD 2025-11
May 14, 2025
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initiated the critical purchase and the replacement boiler is expected to be delivered and installed by mid July 2025.
DISCUSSION
While the CIP group is working on a project for The Water Reclamation Plant Upgrades project, currently in the alternatives analysis phase, will include a long-term solution to address the solids treatment process, however, the boiler must be replaced now to maintain the existing solids treatment process until the long-term solution is operational.
The boiler may, or may not, be incorporated into the plant upgrades project, depending on the alternative selected.
Consistent with the Urgency Purchase procedures of City Council Policy 4.01 – Procurement, staff is requesting CSD Board ratification of an urgency purchase and approval of Agreement No. 2025-11 with California Boiler, Inc. for the purchase and installation of a Rite boiler, in the amount of $223,579.35, and requests authorization of a contingency in the amount of $11,000 (approximately 5%) for contract change orders that may become necessary, for a total authorized expenditure of $234,579.35.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for the purchase and installation of a Rite boiler and contingency are included in the Camarillo Sanitary District Fund, Capital Purchases / Equipment Account No. 871- 8410-484.91-31 in the amount of $234,580.
CEQA DETERMINATIONS
The Maintenance Contract is not subject to CEQA review pursuant to Section 15301(b) of the State CEQA Guidelines, which exempts from CEQA review projects that involve the emergency repair to service facilities necessary to maintain service essential to the public health, safety or welfare. This agenda item meets the criteria for this exemption because it involves the maintenance of existing CSD equipment.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Find the Maintenance Contract exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301(b) of the State CEQA Guidelines as maintenance of CSD equipment;
2. Ratify Urgency Purchase from California Boiler, Inc. for $223,579.35;
3. Authorize the District Manager to execute CSD Agreement No. 2025-11 with California Boiler, Inc. for the purchase and installation of a Rite boiler in the amount of $223,579.35 and authorize a contingency in the amount of $11,000, for a total not- to-exceed amount of $234,579.35; and
4. Authorize the City Manager to execute future change orders and documents with California Boiler, Inc. up to the authorized contingency amount.
Purchase and Installation of a Rite Boiler CSD 2025-11
May 14, 2025
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ATTACHMENTS
1. CSD Agreement 2025-11
REFERENCE MATERIALS – AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT CITY HALL None